Nebraska 2026 Pin Hitters Ready for Sophomore Surge

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A select few Class of 2026 prospects grabbed the varsity spotlight during Nebraska's 2022 high school season. Time to revisit a few of those names.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've all heard about the "sophomore slump," but standout prep volleyball players always seem to defy that trend. Freshman year is usually about finding your stride and gaining experience here and there. That sets the foundation for a massive jump in production as a sophomore, and the Cornhusker State has plenty of players poised to make that jump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're starting with pin hitters for this one. Who's ready for a sophomore surge?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["275894"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"It's hard to imagine a better freshman debut than the one Dolliver put together with Malcolm last fall. She didn't just tally the most kills among all Nebraska freshmen. Dolliver had the second-most kills of u003cemu003eallu003c/emu003e players in the entire state. Her staggering 558 terminations in 2022 has set the bar incredibly high for Dolliver's second prep season, but we already know she can rise to the occasion.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["276202"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Beethe has harnessed her physicality and length to do tremendous things. Her freshman campaign with Johnson County Central yielded well over 300 kills and strong efficiency numbers throughout the season. We've seen Beethe progress further with Nebraska Juniors on the club side, so her upward momentum could culminate in even bigger numbers this time around.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["253923"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Like Dolliver, Branson set the pace for her small-town team en route to a 2022 state tournament appearance. The Shelton outside hitter has dazzled us at so many different venues, from high school matches to club tournaments to Prep Dig showcases. Her GJNC all-tournament selection with South Central NE 15 Black this summer is a further testament to Branson's ability to take over matches.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["275971"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Our run of state tournament stars continues. As we mentioned in our Unfinished Business series, Ryan and Overton have an excellent chance to get back to Lincoln and find retribution after last year's runner-up finish. Optimism has kept skyrocketing after Ryan had several standout performances with Nebraska Pride Gold 16s during the club season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["276203"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Here's a high-flying athlete we'll be watching closely this fall. Watters finished third on Nebraska's kill leaderboard among freshmen after putting down 321 swings with Winside last fall. Yet, somehow, Watters' 435 digs in the same timeframe is perhaps even more impressive. That's how you fill a stat sheet.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["275935"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"It's no mystery that West was a crucial component to Omaha Skutt Catholic's 2022 championship to extend the streak to eight. The rising sophomore will now have even more on her shoulders with several transformative players graduating from that squad. However, West has recently exhibited the six-rotation skills necessary to take that next step and be a future leader for the SkyHawk program.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["231947"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"We're going back to the small-town scene to find another outside hitter who has made her mark on the club side. Haase emerged as a go-to scorer for VCN 15 Elite who could lock things down in serve receive, too. That versatility will be a key piece of the Bobcat lineup as a new era dawns for the Exeter-Milligan/Friend co-op.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["276206"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Ashland-Greenwood is always a Lincoln-area competitor to watch, and athletes like Glock help perpetuate the team's success. Glock is an adaptable pin hitter who dropped over 250 kills in her debut season. She can play on either side and even has a setting repertoire in her game whenever the situation warrants. Keep an eye on which role materializes this fall.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["276210"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"The Larson name is synonymous with Wahoo volleyball. Josie easily amassed triple-digit kills in 2022 and is due for another uptick in production as a sophomore. This is also another outside hitter who compiles colossal dig numbers, as Larson finished the season with well over 400.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["396731"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Time to wrap up the tour in David City. Andel brings South Central NE 15 Black back into the discussion after she was another major contributor for GJNC's third-place finisher. We could see Andel on either pin for David City this fall. Regardless of position, we're sure that this athletic attacker will once again be among the most prolific scorers in her class.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64cf339c66ea0"} /-->